Acute and Chronic Lung Injury

My research efforts are focused on lung biology in health and disease, for both neonates and adults. A common theme of my research approach is quantitative morphology and molecular morphology of acute and chronic lung injury, in the context of lung pathophysiology.

My studies dealing with neonatal lung injury concentrate currently, and for the next 3 years, on alveolar formation. We are investigating the effects of vitamin A therapy on alveolar formation in lambs that are either delivered prematurely and mechanically ventilated for up to 3 weeks, or have continuous drainage of tracheal and amniotic liquid for up to 3 weeks. In both experimental animal models, alveolar formation is delayed. Our hypothesis is that vitamin A promotes alveolar formation by upregulating expression of growth factors (such as vascular endothelial growth factor), thereby promoting capillary growth and alveolar secondary crest formation.

My colleagues and I are also studying pulmonary artery and airway pathophysiology during the evolution of chronic lung injury in preterm lambs. We will use a variety of molecular morphology methods to address mechanisms of injury. My studies of lung injury in adults are focused on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The studies of ARDS are part of a SCOR grant in Acute Lung Injury. The theme of our SCOR grant is endothelial dysfunction. My role is directing and accomplishing molecular morphology analyses. Most of the morphological analyses that are performed are immunohistochemical localization of protein expression and in situ hybridization/RT-PCR for mRNA expression. We are currently investigating the expression of endothelial nitric oxide isoforms in the lungs of human subjects with ARDS. A variety of other potential mediators are to be investigated.